The Minimum Wage Advisory Panel in Ontario has begun public consultations on the minimum wage. Consultations are to be completed by October 18, 2013.
The purpose of the consultations is to receive input and comments on issues raised in a consultation paper that was released on July 17, 2013. The Advisory Panel is seeking input through 9 specific questions detailed in the consultation paper.
Ontario's minimum wage is currently $10.25 an hour. It has been frozen at that rate for three years, and is below the poverty line. Increasing the minimum wage to at least the low-income cut off level and indexing it to the cost of living is a long-standing OCASI demand to the provincial government. OCASI supports the Campaign To Raise the Minimum Wage.
OCASI encourages member agencies to participate in the consultations by signing up for one of the regional sessions, or completing the online feedback form or sending a written submission to the Panel. See links for details:
Regional Consultations: https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/regional.php
Consultation paper and submissions: https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/consultation.php
The Ontario government appointed the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel in June 2013. The panel is chaired by Professor Anil Verma and has representation from worker, labour, youth and business groups. The panel is expected to complete its work within six months.
The Advisory panel will examine Ontario's current approach to setting the minimum wage, and will provide advice on how the province should determine changes to the minimum wage in the future.
OCASI is preparing a submission to the panel. The document will be distributed shortly to member agencies, and posted on the OCASI website.
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For more information contact Amy Casipullai, Senior Coordinator Policy and Communications at amy@ocasi.org